Doomben meeting transferred
Wednesday’s Doomben meeting has been transferred to the Sunshine Coast polytrack due to wet conditions.
The card will now feature just eight races with the Listed Recognition S. shifted to Saturday’s scheduled Doomben raceday.
Boss not done yet
Recently retired hoop Glen Boss has accepted an invitation to ride at February’s US$20 million (AU$28 million) Saudi Cup Invitational Meeting.
The 90-time Group 1 winner said the opportunity to ride against the likes of Frankie Dettori and Mike Smith was too good to refuse.
"I'm representing Australia, that's what it's about, you don't get the opportunity now in our sport to do that very often,” Boss told RSN.
"February I'll start riding some work again, I won't ride work for a little bit and then get into some trials because if I'm representing Australia against these guys, I want to make sure I'm on the job.”
Hong Kong stint in limbo
James McDonald is uncertain if he will be able to contest next month’s International Jockeys' Series at Happy Valley due to the global spread of the Omicron strain of COVID-19.
McDonald is due to leave next Monday to compete at the meeting on December 8 but said he would be unlikely to do so if required to isolate for 14 days on return to Australia.
James McDonald
“As it stands, I have to do 72 hours self-isolation when I get back home. I’ve got no problem with that but if the situation changes and I have to do 14 days in hotel quarantine, then that’s different,” McDonald told Racenet.
“I’m working through the process now but obviously I don’t want to be stuck somewhere. I want to make a decision (about going to Hong Kong) by Wednesday.”
Thompson calls time
Robert Thompson has called time on a 49-year career in the saddle that realised an Australian record of 4447 winners.
The seven-time Group 1-winning hero, who had his last ride at Port Macquarie on July 3, said retirement had been on his mind for some time.
Robert Thompson | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I’ve definitely finished, I’m 63 now and not getting any younger, I’m sick of the travelling and the wasting. I’ve done it for 49 years and I’ve had my ‘fun in the sun’,” Thompson told Racenet.
“I’ve had a good innings; I knew it had come to an end when I couldn’t get up there (to the Cairns Amateurs in September) to put that final nail in.”
Clark hangs up the saddle
Raquel Clark has officially announced her retirement from race riding after failing to make a full recovery from a traumatic brain injury suffered in a post-race fall at Morphettville on November 9, 2019.
The 28-year-old still suffers from memory loss, extreme fatigue and regular headaches despite her best efforts to manage the side effects.
"They're hopeful that things will get a bit better for me, but I think it's more that I'll really manage it better," Clark told Radio TAB.
"It's the brain, so they can't really put a time limit on it, but I am very lucky I didn't have spinal damage and I'm here and I'm happy.”
Another Prophet prevails
Aquis Farm’s second-season stallion Divine Prophet notched his 13th winner of the season via the aptly named Philosophers Stone at Ararat on Tuesday.
Philosphers Stone winning the 3YO Mdn Plate at Aarat
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding finished 0.2l the better of Foxy Gal (Foxwedge) with a 5.5l gap back to the third-placed Alpine Ace (Alpine Eagle) in the 1300-metre contest.
Divine Prophet now sits fifth on the Leading Second Season Sires' standings by winners, seven behind Newgate Farm’s Capitalist.
Pakenham Cup off the cards
G2 Zipping Classic winner Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) could be set for a host of New Zealand summer features after Mike Moroney opted against backing the 9-year-old up into Saturday’s Listed Pakenham Cup.
Moroney confirmed that Sound’s ownership group, led by Gerald Peterson and Rod Duke would like to see the entire contest the G1 Zabeel Classic, G1 Herbie Dyke S. and the G1 New Zealand S. before returning to Australia for the G1 Tancred S.
“They would like to see him back in New Zealand for the weight-for-age races mainly, running in the three Group 1 weight-for-age races and miss the Auckland Cup because they're saying it might help him as a stallion if he won one of them,” Moroney told Racing.com.
"He hasn't got a record at two miles; he has been placed (in the past two Auckland Cups) but 2400 metres looks his right trip on what we've seen."
Jamaea to jump-out
Robert and Luke Price have outlined the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and G1 Surround S. as feature targets for their dual Group 2-winning filly Jamaea (Headwater) this campaign.
The exciting talent will make her first public appearance since the G1 Golden Rose S. in a home track trial at Kembla Grange next Wednesday before resuming in the Listed Nudgee S. at Doomben on January 1.
Jamaea after winning the G2 Percy Sykes S. | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We want to make she handles the trip away first, as you don’t know until you do it, but she’s given us every indication she will,” Luke Price told Racenet.
“She has come back with flying colours. She is not an overly big filly but has certainly taken the improvement looks wise between her time in the paddock and coming back in.”
O’Sullivan remains wary
Lance O’Sullivan has warned that a lack of experience could count against impressive Te Aroha debut winner Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in Saturday’s G3 Bonecrusher S. at Matamata.
O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, said the exciting filly has the talent to measure up against what looks to be a strong field of 3-year-olds.
“She’s just a learner, but it’s her home track so that should help. We’re hoping to run in the better 3-year-old fillies’ races later in the season but the timing worked out well to run her here,” O’Sullivan said.
Shadai set Contrail’s fee
Sunday’s G1 Japan Cup winner Contrail (Jpn) will stand his first season at Shadai Stallion Station for ￥12 million (AU$150,000).
Contrail (Jpn) | Image courtesy of JRA/Horsephotos
The Japanese Triple Crown hero’s service fee is the same that his Champion sire Deep Impact (Jpn) stood for during his first season in 2007.
Corniche sent for freshen up
G1 Breeders’ Cup juvenile winner Corniche (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) will be sent for a brief freshen up at WinStar Farm in Kentucky before returning to Bob Baffert’s barn.
“It’s time to give him a little break. Speedway likes to use WinStar for lay-ups. He can be turned out, graduate to a paddock and they have a track too,” Marette Farrell, who purchased the US$1.5 million (AU$2.1 million) colt for Speedway Stable told Daily Racing Form.
